Someone Dear to Me
Phew...
Jade dew tea is always so calming...
It reminds me of home...
Ma'am, do you need anything else?
Our day is not the common day.
For the moon is our sun, and moonlight our daylight.
...What's wrong, White Moon?
It's just... there haven't been any messenger pigeons lately.
No orders yet?
Thanks to you.
Huh? Thanks to me...?
You've locked up every criminal in sight lately, haven't you?
So there's no orders left to give. The world's more peaceful now.
It's all thanks to you, White Moon.
...Is that so?
If that's true... I'm glad.
Fufu, anyway.
...What's with that smug look?
I heard you and the Captain are pretty close.
Huh...? Close...?
Ah?!
N-no! That's a misunderstanding!
What are you saying?! Seriously!
Heard you stop by his place every day off. No way nothing's happening.
So? How far have things gotten? You can tell me.
I only go to clean and cook! Don't read into it!
Oh come on, don't give me that.
So then? Put your relationship into numbers. One to ten.
Ugh...
Really... Nothing happened...
...Seriously?
Is the Captain even a man? He can't even lift a spoon to a meal set right in front of him?
Who are you calling the meal here?!
Hehe, isn't it obvious? Here, take this.
What is this?
Froststar mushrooms.
I got my hands on a few top-quality ones from the East. Perks of being a trader.
They're good for the body. Especially for men. Give him some.
Who knows? Something might happen. Heh heh...
That's enough!
I'm going home!
Not taking them? They're rare medicine, you know.
Well, that's...!
Come back anytime!
...The mushrooms are good for his health.
I only brought them to repay him. That's all.
No other intentions whatsoever.
None, not even a speck. I'm the picture of a calm, clear mind. Yeah!
...Hmm?
Is that the Captain over there? Who's that child with him?
Capt—
Dad! I want that!
Dad...?
*Gasp*
R-right. If you're qualified, it doesn't matter where you're from, your race, or your job... Even if you have a kid...!
Ugh...
You're not supposed to call me that. It's Captain.
That's too hard. I'll just call you Dad!
Oh, I misunderstood!
But Dad, there's a weird lady staring at us.
Do you know her?
Ah...!
You were taking a lost child to the Town Guard headquarters!
You really are kind, Captain.
Here's a praise pat!
For some reason, she patted my head with more force than usual.
Go on ahead. I'll catch up soon.
It's fine, I'll come with you.
It's just up ahead anyway. Fufu.
Hello there, little knight. Nice to meet you.
Who...?
My apologies for the late introduction. I'm Lyn from the Wind Moon Sect of the East.
May I?
Huh? What are you doing?
You've got ice cream on your cheek. Let me wipe it.
There, all clean!
...Um.
Yes?
You don't have to help, you know?
Help...?
Watch out over there! A cow got loose!
Moooo!
Why does this always happen to me?!
Captain?!
Thanks for helping! Have a great day!
Moooo...
*Huff* *Huff*
Do these kinds of things happen to you often, Captain...?
Do they...?
Now that I think about it... with Xuelan and Weiyin too...
Maybe you really attract trouble, Captain.
Where's the little knight...?
Mom? Is that you? Mom!
Watch out...! A car's headed this way!
Ngh!
...Ahh!
S-sorry...! It's my fault... Are you okay?!
...I'm fine. It's nothing.
What about you?
Y-yeah! Thanks to you, I didn't get hurt at all.
Fufu, I'm glad. By the way, where's the Captain...
Cafe Strega's biggest sale starts now!
Woohoo!
Wait! I didn't mean to line up!
Captain?! How'd you end up over there?!
I look away for one second and you're gone!
Even after that, random incidents kept dragging us farther from the Town Guard headquarters.
...The sun's setting already.
Somehow, we just keep getting farther from the Town Guard headquarters.
So...
*Sniffle*
Mom... Dad... I miss you... *Sob*
Little knight...
...Huh?
Shall we make a promise?
*Sniffle* A promise...?
Yes. I swear on the Wind Moon Sect and my name as a children's instructor.
I promise I'll get you back to your mom and dad.
Really...?
Of course. Really.
Yeah. We promise.
...Okay. I trust you.
But I'm sleepy... I always go to bed at this time...
Fufu, when you wake up, everything will be okay. Sleep well.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star...
As Lyn hummed a lullaby, the child slowly closed his eyes.
If you're tired, shall I carry him next?
No, I'm fine.
...You've done so well, Captain.
You're really good at caring for children now. You're carrying him so steadily.
...It's because we did so much volunteering together?
Fufu, that's true. We did visit the daycare every week.
...You know, Captain?
Children see right through people's true nature.
Whether they're kind or cruel...
Whether they can be trusted or not.
The reason our little knight fell asleep so peacefully...
And the reason he trusted us is... because he knew you're trustworthy.
Fufu, you'll make a wonderful dad someday, Captain.
I mean, there's no one I'm involved with...
You can make that happen. There are plenty of good people around, right?
Senior maids in Candle Square, the new maid, the daycare teachers.
And maybe... someone even closer...
Closer?
...W-who knows? I...
Th-the night air's chilly! Let's get back before you catch a cold!
I followed behind Lyn, who had somehow picked up her pace.
When we finally reached the Town Guard headquarters, the boy's parents were there looking for him, and we were able to keep our promise.
After we got back to the quarters, I happily enjoyed the medicinal meal Lyn made for me.
